Final: Revolution 2, Earthquakes 1

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Lee Nguyen scored the game-winning goal in the third minute of stoppage time as the New England Revolution topped the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-1, at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday night. San Jose – which entered the game with a 21-game undefeated streak at home, built largely on late-game heroics of their own – was forced some of its own medicine as the Revolution snatched the win at the game’s death.

New England (1-2-1, 4 pts.) earned its first win of the season – and scored its first goals of the season – claiming its first victory on the West Coast in almost two years.

San Jose (0-2-1, 1 pt.) saw its long-standing run at home snapped, and also failed to pick up its first win of the year.

Nguyen scored his first goal of the season in fine fashion, getting on the end of a Scott Caldwell pass down the left wing. Nguyen then dribbled into the San Jose defense, worked around a man, and slotted his shot home past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch for the deciding goal with time winding down.

The goal lifted the Revolution to the win after the Earthquakes leveled the game in the 69th minute through Chris Wondolowski, and continued to pressure New England while looking for their own game-winner. However, the Revs soured San Jose’s chances for the late win and took the victory home.

The Revolution controlled play in the first half and were dangerous throughout before finally getting on the board for the first time this season in the 35th minute.

With chances from Saer Sene, Diego Fagundez, Teal Bunbury and Daigo Kobayashi all denied, the Revs broke through late in the first half through a defensive miscue by the Earthquakes.

In the 35th minute, Fagundez flicked a ball over the top of the San Jose defense with Sene and Bunbury on-rushing, but ‘Quakes defender Jordan Stewart re-directed the ball back toward goal, behind Busch. Defender Victor Bernardez caught up with the ball and looked to have a chance to prevent it from going over the goal line, but his foot clipped it and pushed it into the goal for a 1-0 Revolution lead.

The Earthquakes came out of the halftime interval and began to push the game to the visiting Revs, and after threatening on several chances, they finally broke through in the 69th minute. Cordell Cato got down the right wing and put a low cross in along the end line. Jose Goncalves cleared it back, but it landed right at Wondolowski’s feet and he slotted his shot past Bobby Shuttleworth for the equalizer.

The Revs came close in 80th minute as Charlie Davies – making his first appearance of the season – played the ball out to Bunbury on the right wing. He centered the ball, but Busch punched the ball out, which landed at Nguyen’s feet at the top of the area. His hard shot was blocked by Clarence Goodson, however, and the Revs remained knotted with San Jose.

The Revolution returns to action next Saturday, March 22, when the team travels to Washington to take on D.C. United at RFK Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with the game set to be televised by myTV38 and carried on the radio by 98.5 The Sports Hub’s HD2 channel.

The victory was New England’s first on the West Coast since March 31, 2012, a 3-1 win against the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center

New England is now 1-0-1 against Western Conference teams this year, following last week’s 0-0 match against Vancouver at Gillette Stadium

The 35th minute San Jose own goal snapped the Revolution’s season-opening 304-minute scoreless streak … the 304-minute scoreless streak was the fifth-longest in club history, and the longest to open a season …coincidently, the club’s record scoreless streak (394 minutes, 2013) was also snapped by an opponent’s own goal (Brandon Barklage, New York Red Bulls)

For the first time this season, the Revs started the same back four in defense as the previous game … in each of the first three matches, at least one defender changed from the prior match

Daigo Kobayashi made his second start in New England, and his first since the team’s season opener on March 8 at Houston

Charlie Davies made the game day 18 for the first time this season … when he came into the game in the 62nd minute, it was his season debut and his fifth appearance with the Revs overall (2013-present)

Steve Neumann made the squad for the second time this season and the first since the season opener on March 8 in Houston

The Revolution had 11 shots on goal tonight, including four in the first half … the team’s first-half total was more than the team’s single-game best of 3, which they accumulated in each of the last two games

Tonight’s match is scheduled to be the Revolution’s final trip to Buck Shaw Stadium as the Earthquakes are slated to open a new stadium in 2015.